Luton Town FC vs West Bromwich Albion (1st Nov 2024)

01/11/2024 LUTON TOWN 1-1 WEST BROMWICH ALBION

Chong strike earns Hatters a point

The Hatters come from behind to secure a draw against West Brom at Kenilworth Road

The Town had to settle for a share of the spoils in a scrappy draw against draw-specialists West Brom.

Albion took the lead against the run of play at the end of the first half when Josh Maja turned home from inside the area.

However, the Hatters deservedly got a point for their endeavour when man-of-the-match Tahith Chong swept a wonderful equaliser home on the hour.

Both sides pushed for a late winner but it ended all square as the visitors registered a fifth straight draw.

Showing two changes to the side that lost at Coventry last weekend with Amari’i Bell and Teden Mengi replacing the suspended Tom Holmes and Alfie Doughty, the Town started well.

But both sides struggled to find their passing accuracy in a turgid first half.

Carlton Morris’ shot on the turn on 24 minutes was held by Alex Palmer in the Albion goal before the visiting keeper then stopped Elijah Adebayo’s shot moments later.

But just went it looked as though both sides would go in at the break level with the score blank, the Baggies led in the fourth minute of added time at the of the half. Karlan Grant’s low cross from the left was back-flicked goalwards by Maja and his effort bobbled through the legs of Jordan Clark and rolled agonisingly into the net.

At the start of the second half, the Town made a change, Shandon Baptiste replacing Victor Moses and shortly before the hour mark a double change saw Adebayo and Tom Krauß make way for Liam Walsh and Jacob Brown.

And the changes had the desired effect as the Hatters began to reassert the pressure and on the hour it was level. Chong pounced on a loose ball 25 yards from goal, raced forward and swept a fine, low, left-foot finish past Palmer’s out-stretched hand.

Four minutes later the Kenilworth Road end appealed in vain for a penalty after the ball appeared to bounce off the arm of Albion’s Callum Styles only for referee Dean Whitestone to wave away the shouts.

It was then Albion’s turn to press and the Hatters were thankful to some strong defending from Mark McGuinness to get in the way as the shots from the visitors headed goalwards.

Chong came mighty close to putting the Town in front with 15 minutes left only for Palmer to get a glove on the midfielder’s deflected effort.

Half chances came and went for the Town. Walsh whizzed a shot wide from and Baptiste’s header at the back-post was cleared by the Albion back-line as the Hatters pushed for a late winner.

Then, with six minutes left, the Town thought they’d got all three points when Daiki Hashioka’s header from a Baptiste corner crashed off the woodwork.

The final chance fell to the visitors and the Hatters had Thomas Kaminski to thank for pushing away Devante Cole’s overhead kick with a minute left and it proved to be the final chance.

Town: Kaminski; Moses (sub Baptiste 46), Bell, McGuinness, Mengi, Hashioka; Krauß (sub Walsh 57), Clark, Chong; Morris, Adebayo (sub Brown 57).

Subs not used: Krul, Woodrow, Nakamba, Mpanzu, Taylor, Johnson.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g0Tm921fyuE – match highlights

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JaDtMPM5FGg – Rob Edwards post match interview

Chong's equaliser earns the Hatters a point against West Bromwich Albion

Championship: Luton Town 1 West Bromwich Albion 1

A second half strike from Tahith Chong saw Luton end their run of back-to-back defeats with a 1-1 draw against stalemate specialists West Bromwich Albion this evening.

The Baggies came into the game on the back of four straight draws, having scored just one goal in that time, and it looked like they might end that sequence when taking the lead at the end of a first half that was desperately low on quality. However, the only real moment of magic from Luton came midway through the second period, Chong rifling into the bottom corner, as an end-to-end finale saw neither side able to create that killer opportunity needed for victory.

With boss Rob Edwards stating beforehand that he might have to take some risks with his selection in order to get the result he felt he needed after those successive losses, the Hatters chief did just that, bringing back fit-again centre halves Teden Mengi and Amari'i Bell to replace the suspended duo of Tom Holmes and Alfie Doughty.

The alterations also saw yet another changed back-line for the hosts, with Mengi and Bell flanking Mark McGuinness, as Daiki Hashioka finally moved to his natural position at right wingback, Victor Moses swapping over to the left. After such a dispiriting performance at the CBS Arena last weekend when losing 3-2 against Coventry, it was imperative they at least showed signs of willing on this occasion and early on it looked like they might, Tom Krauß almost picking out Elijah Adebayo through the middle once more, but this time former Luton loanee and one-time transfer target Alex Palmer was out of his area well to clear.

A good move on the left with 10 minutes gone saw Chong find Krauß inside the area as the German midfielder went for goal himself, sending his curling attempt well wide. With the game degenerating into a scrappy affair, neither side able to create anything meaningful and passes from both sets of players often going straight out of play, it took until the 21st minute for a decent one to be witnessed, Krauß using the outside of his boot to find Morris, his cross-shot gathered by Palmer.

The keeper didn't look quite as assured moments later when Morris had another pop from outside the box, this time the keeper opting to parry away, the rebound hitting Moses and unfortunately bouncing narrowly wide. Adebayo then started to get involved too, displaying great strength to hold things up and keep Town on the front foot, while from Hashioka's header, he twisted and turned his markers, but could only shoot weakly at Palmer.

Unfortunately the game degenerated into a fairly rotten spectacle devoid of any genuine quality, the watching audience seated on their sofas wondering just why Sky opted to choose this one for coverage, both sides continuing to pick out members of the crowd rather than a team-mate, in particular the goalkeepers, with Palmer getting cheered for his continually wayward clearances.

However, the Baggies made what was a pretty terrible first period even worse for the hosts in stoppage time, as Darnell Furlong's long throw was cleared away, but then the full back was able to return it, as neither McGuinness or Mengi dealt with the cross. That allowed Karlan Grant to get round the tackle of Mengi and send in a low delivery that Josh Maja backheeled through the legs of Jordan Clark, Kaminski only able to watch it trickle into the bottom corner.

After the break, Luton brought on the returning Shandon Baptiste for Moses, but the quality didn't improve a great deal immediately, Uros Racic sending a free kick straight at Kaminski. Edwards then made two more changes with Jacob Brown and Liam Walsh coming on for Adebayo and Krauß, boos heard from the home fans when notified of the German midfielder's withdrawal.

However, they were soon cheering on the hour mark as Chong intercepted a sideways pass in the visitors’ half from Mowatt, sped forward, stood up his man, worked an angle, pulled the trigger and saw his shot fairly scorch past Palmer to level the scores. Town had huge claims for a penalty turned down midway through the half when Callum Styles clearly handled the ball after appearing to be pushed by Brown, but with referee Dean Whitestone giving the corner, it remained a mystery as to why a spotkick wasn't awarded.

McGuinness used his long levers to stretch and make a critical intervention, as he also made another block following a bout of pinball, Luton's defence just about hanging on. With action at both ends, the ball wouldn't quite sit for Brown as his volley flew miles over, while Baptiste found space at the back post, seeing a header hacked away.

Chong almost had a second with 15 minutes remaining, dancing round his marker in the area and then shooting low, his effort taking a deflection and drawing a wonderful save from Palmer who made up for his decidedly iffy distribution by keeping his team in it. The goalscorer was becoming increasingly influential in the latter stages, finding another good position in the box as his blast was repelled, Albion's threats now minimal, Mikey Johnston wide of the mark.

Town looked the most likely, Walsh, who impressed during his cameo, veering a hopeful long-rangers wide and then Baptiste, another who looked lively, sent in a terrific corner that saw Hashioka rise highest, his header cannoning off the outside of the post and away. Having said that, the game then swung back in the favour of the Baggies during the latter stages, as they forced a number of corners, Town's defence keeping them at bay, Mengi in particular standing firm.

Kaminski had to react quickly to stop Devante Cole's audacious overhead kick from going in, as even though Town had four minutes of stoppage time available to them, they couldn't nab a winner.

Hatters: Thomas Kaminski, Victor Moses (Shandon Baptiste 46), Daiki Hashioka, Mark McGuinness, Teden Mengi, Amari'i Bell, Tom Krauß (Liam Walsh 57), Jordan Clark, Tahith Chong, Carlton Morris (C), Elijah Adebayo (Jacob Brown 57).

Subs not used: Tim Krul, Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu, Joe Johnson, Joe Taylor, Cauley Woodrow, Marvelous Nakamba.

Baggies: Alex Palmer, Darnell Furlong, Mason Holgate, Callum Styles, Jed Wallace (C, Tom Fellows 63), Josh Maja (Mikey Johnston 75), Grady Diangana (Devante Cole 63), Torbjorn Heggem, Karlan Grant (John Swift 85), Uros Racic (Jayson Molumby 74), Alex Mowatt.

Subs not used: Joe Wildsmith, Ousmane Diakite, Lewis Dobbin, Gianluca Frabotta. Referee: Dean Whitestone.

Booked: Furlong 40, Styles 54, [edit: Bell 90]

Attendance: 11,665 (1,343 Baggies).

Edwards thought Luton might have won a penalty if Town were still in the Premier League

Styles escapes punishment for second half handball

Hatters boss Rob Edwards felt if his side were still in the Premier League, they might well have been awarded a second half penalty during their 1-1 draw against West Bromwich Albion last night.

Midway through the second half, a high cross into the box saw Jacob Brown challenge with visiting full back Callum Styles for the ball near the by-line. The Town substitute appeared to push his opponent when jostling as the ball clearly struck the arm of the defender and bounced behind to huge appeals from the home supporters. However, referee Dean Whitestone obviously thought there was no foul play from the Luton attacker, as he signalled for a corner, while his assistant, who had the perfect view of the incident, didn’t flag for a spotkick either, incurring the wrath of the Kenilworth Road crowd.

Discussing the incident afterwards, Edwards said: “I’ve seen it and I think last year, I don’t want to go on about last year all the time, but last year we might have got it. Now, all right, it is a contact sport, you’re allowed to make contact, I don’t think Browny fouls him, the arm clearly comes out, knocks the ball out, on another day, maybe. He (Whitestone) didn’t think it was a foul, we aren’t quite getting things like that at the moment, but let’s try and think positive.”

The Hatters fans were mixed with their reactions on social media, @LutonEye saying: “Stone bonker.” @Meilingday: “Would have been handy to have VAR in this case.” @kevlennon1: “Pushed into the ball by Brown. Should have been their free-kick. However, the fact he ignored the push & gave a corner meant it should then have been a penalty for the handball.”

@LTFCShirts: “No, JB pushed the player prior to the player handling the ball.” @Aguirre115622: “Tricky because of the push that put him off balance - but as they say on MOTD… I've seen them given. It was either a pen or a foul for WBA. Giving a corner means he thinks it was a touch but not handball...” @Run2Swim50: “No. He was fouled first.”

@MISTERPDW: “After Sunderland and now tonight's Styles hand ball. Are we playing Basketball rules at the KR end?” @HatterNorthern: “Of course. I know some say it was a shove, but if they thought it was a foul, they should have given one. If you play on from there, it’s clear as day.” @brennans12: “It was in front of me and looked a clear hand ball.”

@LiamOBoyle10: “If it was VAR checked, he moved his arm to the ball. Penalty.” @PRA1973: “Absolutely.” @scruffgolfer: “No.” @Deegswire: “I wish, but no. Pushed.” @ltfc_jt: “Never.” @_StuartJones: “Na.” @HatterNorthern: “If they had given the foul, then fine. But if they didn’t, as was the case, they give the foul as you usually would. Meaning a penalty.”

Hatters chief remains confident the wins will come after Albion draw

Town manager reacts to Baggies point

Luton boss Rob Edwards remains confident the wins will come for his Town side despite going three matches without a victory after being held to a 1-1 draw against West Bromwich Albion this evening.

The Hatters fell behind in the final stages of the first period when Josh Maja’s backheel trickled into the net, before responding with an hour gone, Tahith Chong picking out the same corner with a rasping finish. Although it means that Luton have only taken a single point from their last three matches, with defeats to Sunderland and Coventry leading into this contest, Edwards said: “The effort levels are there.

"The last three games, especially here, Cov, like I said the other was maybe one step too far, but Watford, Sunderland and tonight, here at the Kenny, they’ve been three really good performances and in my opinion on another day we would have won all three games but we haven’t. If we keep doing that, keep pressing the way we are, keep recovering the ball as much as possible and being a bit better in the final third. then the wins will come.”

Although tonight’s clash was seriously low on quality at times, particularly in the first period, Town might have won it after Chong’s leveller, the midfielder seeing his shot excellently saved by former Luton loanee Alex Palmer. Daiki Hashioka also headed against the outside of the post, but Thomas Kaminski ensured the Hatters didn’t suffer a third straight loss, repelling Devante Cole’s close range overhead volley late on.

Edwards, who made a half time alteration, taking off Victor Moses for Shandon Baptiste, certainly felt the hosts deserved to triumph though, adding: “I thought we were much better in the first half and just because we were 1-0 down I don’t think we deserved to be. I thought the whole game was really in our half, they scored almost the first time they were in our box, we want to try and get that bit right as well, but second half we were good, showed a lot of intent.

"I was really pleased as to concede when we did, it could have really flattened the lads, flattened the stadium. It made me go a little bit early with the first change, I felt that because our pressing was so good and Vic was obviously pressing high up it suited Chongy to do that as well. When we defended low he had to defend as almost a wingback, but it was the right thing for Chongy to do that.

“I thought the momentum was pretty much with us the whole game. They had little moments and the spells when they had chances were from long throws and things like that. We defended well a couple of times in the second half when we needed to, but I would have liked the territory and the possession and the moments we had in the game to turn that into more quality, openings and opportunities and shots.

"You could see that there was maybe a little hesitancy in front of goal, too many touches or snatching at things and I think that’s understandable. But overall to go behind just before half time, to come back and keep that performance going, I was pleased.”

Luton chief understands fans being unhappy with his decision to take Krauß off

Midfielder is replaced early in the second half during 1-1 draw

Luton boss Rob Edwards could understand why some supporters weren’t happy with his decision to take off popular midfielder Tom Krauß against West Bromwich Albion during last night’s 1-1 draw at Kenilworth Road, although felt it proved to be the right call to make.

Despite a first half in which few players from either side caught the eye, the on-loan Mainz player, who was making his seventh start for the Hatters, had been enjoying a decent enough outing himself, snapping into some tackles and curling one attempt wide of the target. He also produced two moments of quality that was in desperately short supply, one through ball to Elijah Adebayo that saw visiting keeper Alex Palmer come haring out of his goal to clear, and another outside of the boot pass to Carlton Morris for Town’s skipper to shoot goalwards, Palmer saving comfortably.

However, with the Baggies ahead through Josh Maja’s strike in first half stoppage time, Edwards took off Victor Moses at the break and brought on the fit-again Shandon Baptiste, then opting to make a double change with 56 minutes gone, withdrawing Adebayo and Krauß for Jacob Brown and Liam Walsh. There were plenty of boos heard from the stands when Krauß’s number went up and he made his way off the pitch, a number feeling it should have been Jordan Clark making way instead, as he went on to complete the full match once more.

Those jeers soon turned to cheers though, Tahith Chong latching on to sideways pass in the Baggies’ half and going on to drive his shot past Palmer and into the bottom corner to level the scores. Although Edwards didn’t go to his bench again for the remainder of the match, the trio who came on all played their part in Town having the better of things when they were on the pitch, Baptiste’s corners causing real danger, Daiki Hashioka heading one against the woodwork, as Walsh’s cool head when in possession was particularly noticeable too.

Speaking about his decision afterwards, the Hatters chief said: “I went early with a couple of subs, so I pleased with the impact they had. I had to make some big calls and some people weren’t happy with Tom coming off, I understand that. Tom’s good but different to Walshy and we wanted someone then who could give us a bit more control which he did, so that was it and it worked.

"It was the right thing to do to go early with a couple of the subs, because I felt then that they were starting to drop, thinking that we were going to just go into the strikers and that might free up a bit more space for Shandon and Walshy. That’s why we made those decisions as well, so I pleased that it worked.”